Cruising

First Sailors to Successfully Navigate McClure Passage

In early September, scientists in the Arctic reported that floating sea ice had fallen to the lowest level ever observed, and a trio of sailors took their cue. Sailing on board the 31ft Belzebub II, Canadian Nicolas Peissel, Swede Edvin Buregren and American Morgan Peissel became the first sailors to successfully navigate the McClure Passage, the most northerly route possible in the Northwest Passage. The passage is named for 19th century explorer Capt. Robert McClure who crossed it on foot, nearly losing his entire crew in the process. Centuries later, Belzebub II had little problem finding enough open water, even as the walls of ice closed the passageway behind them.